Never Seen Before

Never Seen Before did well to finish second in the three-year-olds’ one-mile handicap at Leopardstown on Thursday evening from a wide draw. Rider Billy Lee’s hand was more or less forced given that he was drawn in stall 16, he dropped his horse in at the back and tucked in. Still four wide around the home turn, he had to go even wider as they swung into the home straight in order to ensure a clear path. His rider wheeled him to the outside a furlong and a half out and, when he asked the Epaulette gelding for his effort, he found plenty. He stayed on strongly down the outside, moving from almost last of the 14 runners to get to within a neck of the winner Maralinga by the time they got to the winning line.

It was a really good effort by Darren Bunyan’s horse from his wide draw. He did best by far of the horses who were drawn wide. He emerged from stall 16, while the four horses who, with him, filled the first five places drawn nine, six, five and four respectively. This was just his fifth run too, and just his second on turf. It was his first since he won on the all-weather at Dundalk in February over seven furlongs, and he saw out the mile well. The handicapper raised him by just 2lb to a mark of 68, which was fair, and he has the potential to go beyond that mark now.
Leopardstown, 10^th June 2021